Nothing New – Imagine That!  The Legislature and Governor have been “addressing” property tax reform since the Governor took office in 2006.   What these “servants of the people” have come up with is another proposed bill which will not give any property tax relief to non-resident homeowners whose real estate taxes account for about 85% of real estate taxes collected in North Wildwood.  We suppose the Governor’s and Legislature’s idea of reform doesn’t include non-resident homeowners. What would the State do to fund their daily operation if all non-resident taxpayers put their real estate taxes in escrow until the Governor and Legislature did take action to relieve us all of an onerous tax burden?  The State would go bankrupt!

And let’s not forget the North Wildwood politicians like Mayor Henfey, Council President Rosenello, and the other Council members who promised taxpayers that their appeal for 2006 would be refunded.  No way!  That hsn’t happened and won’t ever happen.  Their excuse is that the refund is against State law.  Maybe these political geniuses shouldn’t make processes they can’t keep.  This isn’t the only time that they’ve done this.  All you have to do is review the Council minutes for 2006 and see how many commitments were made and never kept.

Just another example of “All Sizzle and No Steak” on the part of the Governor, Legislature and the City of North Wildwood.

Below is a letter we wrote to Governor Corzine on July 28, 2006.  We received a response from one his aides on August 21, 2006 basically not addressing a single issue we raised and telling us to go to the State Legislature to amend the property tax laws.

                                                                       Alexander J. Schernecke

                                                                        Margaret V. Schernecke

                                                                        846 South Front Street

                                                                        Philadelphia, PA  19147

                                                                        July 28, 2006

Governor Jon S. Corzine

State of New Jersey

P.O. Box 001

Trenton, NJ  08625-0001

Re:      2005 “Unfair” Homeowner Rebate Application

Governor Corzine:

The “Homeowner Rebate Application” enclosed is UNFAIR to Non-Resident Taxpayers.  In shore communities up and down the New Jersey coast non-residents make up the majority of taxpayers.  Since we are not permanent residents we are not eligible to vote in local elections, not eligible for various rebate programs (senior citizen, veterans, and  homeowner).  We use less resources than permanent year round residents, yet we pay just as much in taxes.

You should be aware that non-permanent taxpayers are organizing.  Taxpayers groups in several communities in South Jersey have organized. Our group, The Wildwoods Taxpayers Association (www.wwtpa.org), make up more than 85% of the property taxpayers in North Wildwood.  We cannot vote on issues that affect the quality of our lives here at the shore, yet our tax dollars fund the operation of the local budget.  What would happen if we decided to put our taxes in escrow until adequate outreach programs are put in place to address our needs?  If that would happen, this city would not be able to operate.

This past year all properties in North Wildwood were reassessed.  Thousands of us filed appeals to the Cape May County Board of Taxation.  To say we were treated badly is an understatement.  We were mistreated and verbally insulted.  All of this has been documented in local newspapers like The Press of Atlantic City, Cape May County edition; the Wildwood Leader; and The Cape May County Herald. Many of us are taking our appeals to Trenton Tax Court. This too is documented. 

We feel your administration should address this issue, seriously and quickly, especially in view of the recent state budget fiasco.  We feel out reach programs for non-permanent residents is long over due.  In the words of Thomas Paine, “Taxation without representation is Tyranny”.  We want to vote in local elections.  We want to sit on local planning, zoning and construction boards.  We want the right to make decisions about how our tax dollars are being spent.  This is not just a fairness issue, it is an ethics issue.  There are communities throughout the United States where this had already been established.  We want it in our town here in New Jersey and we want your administration to help make it happen.

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

Alexander and Margaret Schernecke

The Wildwood Taxpayers Association

215-462-7987

267-278-7223 or 7224

609-523-0466

ajschernecke@aol.com

mvsathome@aol.com

AJS/mvs